Hurricane Season Prep for Brevard County Homeowners

Brevard County's Hurricane History: It Happens Here

Some newcomers to the Space Coast assume we're somehow sheltered. We're not. Here's recent history:

The pattern is clear: Brevard County gets hit. Not every year, but often enough that preparation isn't optional — it's survival.

Pre-Season Home Checklist (Do This by June 1)

Don't wait until a storm is in the Gulf. Complete these tasks before hurricane season starts:

🏠 Exterior

• •Inspect your roof for loose, damaged, or missing shingles/tiles. A compromised roof is the #1 entry point for water damage during a hurricane. Get repairs done before season.
• •Clean all gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters cause water to pool and find its way into your soffit, fascia, and walls.
• •Trim trees and remove dead branches within striking distance of your roof, windows, and power lines. In Brevard, palms and oaks are the biggest culprits.
• •Secure or store loose outdoor items — patio furniture, grills, potted plants, trampolines. These become projectiles in hurricane-force winds.
• •Test your hurricane shutters or measure windows for plywood. Have materials ready and staged, not something you're scrambling for at Home Depot 48 hours before landfall.
• •Check your garage door — it's one of the most vulnerable points in your home during high winds. Consider a hurricane-rated garage door or bracing kit.

🔧 Interior & Systems

• •Know where your main water shutoff valve is. Practice turning it off. After a storm, broken pipes inside walls can cause as much damage as the storm itself.
• •Know where your electrical breaker panel is and how to shut off the main breaker.
• •Check your sump pump (if you have one). Test it. Have a battery backup.
• •Inspect your water heater, washing machine hoses, and AC drain pan. Replace old or brittle hoses.
• •If your home has polybutylene pipes (common in 1970s–1990s Brevard homes), know that they're at higher risk of failure under stress. Consider a plumbing inspection.

📋 Insurance & Documents

• •Review your homeowners insurance policy. Know your hurricane deductible (it's separate and usually much higher). Know your wind coverage limits.
• •Confirm you have flood insurance if you're in a flood zone — or even if you're not. Standard homeowners does NOT cover flood damage.
• •Do a home inventory. Walk through every room with your phone and record video. Open cabinets, closets, and drawers. This is your proof of what you owned if you need to file a claim.
• •Store copies of your insurance policies, IDs, mortgage documents, and medical records in a waterproof container or in cloud storage.
• •Save your insurance company's claims phone number and your policy number where you can access them without power or internet.

During the Storm: What to Do

When a hurricane is actively impacting Brevard County, your only job is survival. Property comes second.

• •Stay inside, away from windows. Interior rooms on the lowest floor are safest. If you're in a barrier island home (Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, etc.) and there's an evacuation order — you should already be gone.
• •If you see water entering your home, move to the highest floor. Do not attempt to stop flooding during the storm.
• •Do not go outside during the eye of the storm. The back half often has stronger winds.
• •If power goes out, turn off your main breaker. This prevents damage from power surges when electricity is restored.
• •Keep your phone charged. Use a portable battery pack. You'll need it for emergency calls and insurance documentation.
• •Monitor Brevard County Emergency Management updates via their app, local radio (WMMB 1240 AM), or the Brevard EOC website.

After the Storm: Water Damage Response

The storm passed. Now the real work begins. Post-hurricane water damage is the #1 cause of property loss in Brevard County — and the speed of your response determines the cost.

• •Do a safety check before re-entering your home. Look for structural damage, downed power lines, and standing water. If anything looks unsafe, stay out and call 911.
• •Document everything immediately. Before you touch or move anything, take photos and video of all damage — water lines on walls, wet areas, damaged belongings, the roof, the exterior. This is your insurance evidence.
• •Shut off your main water valve if you haven't already. Post-storm pipe breaks are extremely common, especially in older Brevard County homes.
• •Begin water removal immediately. If you have standing water, don't wait for the insurance adjuster — Florida law requires you to mitigate further damage. Call a restoration company to start extraction and drying.
• •Remove wet contents if safe to do so. Saturated furniture, rugs, and belongings should be moved outside to prevent further damage and mold growth.
• •Open windows and doors (if weather permits) and run fans if you have power or a generator. Airflow is critical in Florida's post-storm humidity.
• •Do not turn on the HVAC system if there's standing water or if the outdoor unit was submerged. Have it inspected first.

The critical window: In Florida's post-hurricane heat and humidity, mold can begin growing within 24 hours. Structural damage escalates rapidly when materials stay wet. Every hour you wait increases restoration costs significantly.

Post-Storm Insurance Documentation Tips

• •File your claim within 24 hours. Don't wait for the full extent of damage to become apparent — file immediately and supplement later.
• •Take photos with timestamps. Most phone cameras embed date and time in the file data. Make sure your phone's date is correct.
• •Keep a written log. Note what happened, when you discovered damage, what steps you took, and every conversation with your insurer (date, time, name of representative, what was said).
• •Save every receipt. Emergency supplies, hotel stays, meals, tarps, generator fuel — anything related to the loss or displacement may be reimbursable under Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage.
• •Get a professional damage assessment. A restoration company's moisture readings, thermal imaging, and detailed scope of damage carry significant weight with adjusters.
• •Don't sign anything you don't understand. If a contractor shows up offering to do work and asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB), read it carefully or call your insurer first.
• •Be wary of storm chasers. After every hurricane, unlicensed contractors flood Brevard County. Verify licenses, get written estimates, and never pay in full upfront.

Special Considerations for Barrier Island Residents

If you live on Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, or Melbourne Beach — you face additional risks:

• •You are in Evacuation Zone A. When an evacuation order is issued, leave. The bridges to the mainland (SR-520, SR-528, US-192, Pineda Causeway) will be closed once sustained winds reach tropical storm force.
• •Storm surge is your biggest threat. Barrier island homes can experience 3-8+ feet of storm surge depending on the storm's strength and approach angle. This is flood damage — covered only by flood insurance.
• •The Indian River and Banana River can flood from both sides. Merritt Island residents can face rising water from both the ocean side and the river side simultaneously.
• •Post-storm re-entry may be delayed. After a hurricane, barrier islands are often the last areas to reopen. Have a plan for where you'll stay and how you'll access your property.
• •Salt water damage is significantly worse than fresh water. If storm surge enters your home, the salt accelerates corrosion of metal, wiring, and appliances. Professional restoration is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions